
Advice Beyond "Don't Touch Your Face!"
What exactly is "social distancing"? “If you can smell what someone had for lunch — garlic, curry, etc. — you are inhaling what they are breathing out, including any virus in their breath."
— Coronavirus researcher Julian Tang, a virologist and professor at the University of Leicester in England. (NYT)
University of Washington Shuts Down
At 8:02 am, University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce emailed UW students and parents that the last day for in-person winter quarter classes is... today. School facilities — dining, gyms — will remain open. A staff member has tested positive for coronavirus. (Dailyuw.com)
Bracketology Meets Virology
NCAA officials are feeling anxious about the first-round tournament games scheduled to be played in Spokane March 19 and 21. Their newly formed six-member advisory panel is looking at data from around the country, and Spokane's proximity to Seattle has them on edge. “Are we going to have people driving [four] hours from Seattle to come there? You need to look at who’s going to come, where are they going to come from. Who do you prevent from coming? Do you need to put any restrictions? Those are tough situations. But in an environment like this one, those are real situations and those are real concerns people need to consider.” — Carlos Del Rio, a global health department chair at Emory University and NCAA advisory panel member. (Washington Post)
Why Are We Hoarding Toilet Paper??
It seems humans worldwide have at least one thing in common: We are terrified of running out of toilet paper. What's behind the frenzy? Here's an answer from the Land Down Under.
“When we’re buying stuff, things close to the body are very comforting, whether that be food, body care or in this case toilet paper,” Adam Ferrier, a Melbourne-based psychologist who specializes in consumer behavior, told Reuters. “The size of toilet paper makes it feel like a substantial, big purchase. It makes it feel like you’re doing something. It taps back into that need for control. If you’re buying a hefty big pack of toilet paper, you kind of feel like you’re ‘stocking up’. You signify to yourself that you’re in control.” (Reuters)
Yep. The annual arts festival in Austin has been canceled amid coronavirus concerns. The festival was slated for March 13-22, but the city's mayor, Steve Adler, canceled the event. (The Verge)